5 Big Louisiana HS Matchups: The Massey Ratings (and Jerit’s Take)

The penultimate weekend of the Louisiana high school football regular season features five top-20 games, according to Massey Ratings.

Friday’s slate, which also includes a half-dozen other top-50 matchups, is the most loaded with high-profile matchups in weeks since we launched this feature highlighting several of the state’s top games to watch.

Here’s a look at these five top-20 matchups that headline — but should just be the tip of the iceberg of — a memorable Week 9 of fierce rivalries and district-clinching games.

Teurlings Catholic (8-0, 4-0) at St. Thomas More (5-3, 4-0)

Friday at 19.00, at STM’s Cougar Stadium

Rankings: Teurlings Catholic (No. 10 overall Massey, No. 1 LSWA Class 4A, No. 1 Division-I Select impact marks); St. Thomas More (No. 8 overall Massey, No. 4 LSWA Class 4A, No. 8 Division-I Select impact marks)

Last week: Teurlings Catholic beat East Ascension, 28-14, on the road. St. Thomas More beat Rayne, 61-0, at home.

Players to watch: 2026 St. Thomas More QB Cole Bergeron, 2025 St. Thomas More LB Nico Blanchard, 2025 St. Thomas More DB Brian Broussard Jr., 2026 Teurlings Catholic WR Nick Celestine, 2025 Teurlings Catholic DB Kaleb Daniels, 2025 DB Gavin Thomas St. Duplechin, 2025 St. Thomas Mere RB Gabe Mocek, 2026 Teurlings Catholic QB Alex Munoz, 2026 Teurlings Catholic OL Drake Perry, 2025 Teurlings Catholic OL Gresham Perry (Tulane), 2025 Teurlings Catholic RB Doug E. Viltz.

Recent History: St. Thomas More has won its past nine meetings, including eight straight in the regular season and a 2025 Division-II Select semifinal. But the past three games have been decided by six points or fewer, including last year’s 35-34 comeback. Teurlings Catholic won the meetings in 2014 and 2015.

Massey prediction: St. Thomas More (90%), 38-14.

Jerit’s thoughts: Teurlings Catholic has achieved a somewhat underdog rise so far to the top of the District 4-4A standings and Class 4A rankings behind its physical play up front, stingy defense and efficient offense. But this week will mark the Rebels’ biggest challenge yet as they try to flip the latest script on their heated rival St. Thomas More, who have had their number for nearly a decade now. Teurlings Catholic has been knocking on that door hard in recent years, and this has been an offseason for the Cougars so far by their standards. But my gut tells me that St. Thomas More finally has found its passing game and has enough poise to go with a solid defense to scrape together a 10th straight win in the series and further mix up the chaotic 4A picture.

Edna Karr (7-0, 5-0) at John Curtis (4-3, 3-2)

Friday at 19.00, at Morris FX Jeff Stadium

Rankings: Edna Karr (No. 1 overall Massey, No. 1 LSWA Class 5A, No. 1 Division-I Select power brands); John Curtis (No. 16 overall ratings, 14th most votes LSWA Class 5A, No. 15 Division-I Select power ratings).

Last week: Edna Karr beat Warren Easton, 62-16, at home. John Curtis lost to Jesuit, 17-10, at home.

Players to watch: 2025 Edna Karr DL Corey Adams Jr. (Ole Miss), 2026 Edna Karr DL Richard Andersen (LSU), 2025 John Curtis DL Logan Barnes, 2025 Edna Karr LB Arsenio Bolds Jr.2025 Edna Karr DB/LB Tyrik Brigalia, 2025 John Curtis DB Trey Brown, 2025 John Curtis DB Jason Curtis, 2025 John Curtis LB Hayden Delatte, 2025 John Curtis TE JoJo Fagin, 2025 Edna Karr WR TaRon Francis (LSU), 2026 Edna Karr DB Aiden Hall (LSU), 2026 Edna Karr DB Hayward Howard Jr.2026 Edna Karr QB John Johnson Jr., 2025 John Curtis QB Reggie Johnson, 2026 John Curtis LB Lane Lecron, 2025 Edna Karr WR Oliver Mitchell Jr. (Tulane), 2025 Edna Karr RB Bryant Sanchez, 2026 Edna Karr DB Torrence Sanders, 2025 John Curtis RB Anthony Smith Jr., 2025 Edna Karr WR Daejawn Smith, 2026 Edna Karr DB Maurice Williams Jr.

Recent History: John Curtis closed out the 2023 regular season with an emphatic 41-7 rout of Edna Karr to end a three-game skid in the series. The teams have met each of the past five years, with the Cougars claiming three of the five.

Massey prediction: Edna Karr (79%), 30-14.

Jerit’s thoughts: The Patriots should boast one of the best defenses, if not the best, that Edna Karr has faced all season, so I don’t expect the Cougars to roll on to another 30- or 40-point blowout win. But Johnson and his array of weapons should be able to break loose for a few scores, and I don’t expect John Curtis to have the firepower this season to match a solid Karr defense by himself. The Cougars look to be the clear top team in an otherwise confused Catholic League and can prove it with a pair of scoreless wins this week.

West Monroe (5-3, 2-1) at Neville (8-0, 3-0)

Friday at 19.00, at Bill Ruple Stadium

Rankings: West Monroe (No. 15 overall Massey, 15th most votes LSWA Class 5A, No. 15 Division-I Non-Select power ratings); Neville (No. 3 overall Massey, No. 2 LSWA Class 5A, No. 1 Division-I Non-Select impact marks).

Last week: West Monroe beat Pineville, 41-13, at home. Neville beat Ouachita Parish, 41-14.

Players to watch: 2026 Neville S Julian Burns2025 Neville TE Thomas Campbell (Nicholls State), 2026 West Monroe WR Trez Davis, 2026 West Monroe QB Ryder DeJean, 2026 Neville DL Jordan Fobbs-White, 2025 Neville DB Robert Graves, 2026 West Monroe 2026 West Monroe 2026 Lilly Kedrian McNeil, 2025 West Monroe RB Ranaldrick Myles, 2025 Neville RB Jaylon Nichols2025 West Monroe WR An’Jahvion Perkins, 2025 Neville DL Anzelon Perkins, 2026 West Monroe RB Christian Ponti, 2026 Neville DB Jayden Reed, 2025 Neville CB Cameron Riley (Ragin’ Cajuns), 2027 Parker 5 Neville, QB Caleb Vaughn2025 Neville DL Brody Whatley (TCU), 2026 Neville WR Ze’land Young.

Recent history: The teams will meet in the regular season for the first time since Neville’s 28-7 non-district victory in 2021. West Monroe won the previous four regular-season meetings. The teams have also met recently in scrimmage and jamboree capacities.

Massey prediction: Neville (67%), 35-26.

Jerit’s thoughts: West Monroe feels somewhat maligned this season with its three losses already, matching 2021 for the program’s most regular season losses over the last two decades. However, the Rebels still feel like one of the top 15-20 teams in the state – especially dangerous when they can play from the front – and have typically had an edge on their cross-river rival more often than not in recent years. But Neville has a strong case right now for No. 1, especially with the continued emergence of Robinson and the passing game. The history here should help prevent the Tigers from looking forward to Alexandria in Week 10 and taking care of business.

Archbishop Rummel (7-1, 4-1) at Jesuit (5-3, 3-2)

Friday at 19.00, at the Shrine on Airline

Rankings: Archbishop Rummel (No. 7 overall Massey, No. 8 LSWA Class 5A, No. 6 Division-I Select Impact Marks); Jesuit (No. 11 overall Massey, 12th most votes LSWA Class 5A, No. 9 Division-I Select impact marks).

Last week: Rummel beat Holy Cross, 13-7, at home. Jesuit beat John Curtis 17-10 at the Shrine.

Players to watch: 2027 Rummel WR Jaylan Ash2025 Rummel DT Fred Banks Jr., 2025 Jesuit DL Will Berry, 2025 Rummel QB Generald Buggage, 2027 Jesuit WR Ja’ir Burks, 2025 Jesuit DL Griffin Ellis, 2025 Rummel DB Lennis Finister Jr.2027 Jesuit DL Zyron Forstall2025 Rummel DB Lester Johnson, 2025 Rummel WR Kendrick Joseph, 2025 Rummel OL Ja’Mard Jones (Nicholls State), 2026 Jesuit WR Roman Larre, 2026 Jesuit QB Taylor Norton, 2026 Jesuit RB Gavin Palmisano, 2026 RB Norman Taylor, 2026 Jesuit RB.

Recent history: Jesuit has actually had Rummel’s number the past three seasons, including a 13-10 win in 2023, following the Raiders’ eight-game streak in the series, including a pair of playoff appearances.

Massey prediction: Rummel (71%), 21-14.

Jerit’s thoughts: The Catholic League in 2024, where you must always take under and save a margin of one score. Rummel and Jesuit have combined to win nine games this season by eight or fewer points, including three each in district play. Since starting to get healthy as the season has progressed, the Raiders have looked as consistent as anyone in the league with three straight wins. Meanwhile, a young but hard-nosed and effective Jesuit has developed into a spot along the lines of the surprise or dark horse with its wins against St. Augustine and John Curtis in the past three weeks. I feel like I’ve gotten into the habit of telling you guys my toughest matchup to predict each week, and that’s certainly it for Week 9. But I’ll give the edge to Rummel and its senior backfield in a game that likely to turn on a single mistake or highlight.

Zachary (6-1, 3-0) at Central-BR (7-1, 2-1)

Friday at 19.00, at Central High Football Stadium

Rankings: Zachary (No. 9 overall Massey, No. 7 LSWA Class 5A, No. 7 Division-I Non-Select impact marks); Central (No. 13 overall Massey, 11th most votes LSWA Class 5A, No. 4 Division-I Non-Select impact marks).

Last week: Zachary beat Woodlawn (Baton Rouge), 45-21, at home. Central beat Liberty Magnet, 35-20, at home.

Players to watch: 2026 Zachary WR Christian Brooks2025 Central QB Jackson Firmin (Nicholls State), 2025 Zachary QB Caleb Gonzales, 2025 Zachary DL Sean Hamilton, 2026 Central OL Graham Harris, 2026 Zachary DB Zakarri Hogan, 2027 Central S/RB Marvin Joseph, 2025 DK May (Houston), 2025 Central LB KD Mays2025 Central DB Steven Ranel2025 Zachary RB DaVekio Ruffin, 2026 Zachary LB Dylan Shelmire, 2026 Central DL Scott Smith Jr., 2026 Zachary LB Isaiah Stokes, 2025 Central WR Kylen Thomas, 2026 Central WR Keithon Womack Central Zimmer, K/2025 Nathan.

Recent history: Zachary has won the last six in the series, with last season’s 35-28 victory the closest margin in that span. Central’s last win came with a 20-19 final in 2016.

Massey prediction: Zachary (75%), 35-21.

Jerit’s thoughts: The hierarchy in the new(ish) District 4-5A in its early years has appeared to be Catholic-BR and Zachary battling for titles and everyone else battling for third place. But Central has emerged since David Simoneaux’s hiring last year as the clear contender to mix that narrative and pecking order. The Wildcats are 0-3 so far against the Bears and Broncos in the span, but it feels like a matter of time before they break through. I have to give Zachary the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise. Even in a relative rebuilding year, they are the deeper team that could prove important in what should be a close, hard-fought contest.